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“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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Reflecting on Student Research at the Roots & Resilience Conference | |
Last month at the Roots & Resilience conference, we were inspired by the remarkable student researchers and youth presenters who shared their voices, creativity, and data-driven insights as part of our “Healing in Action” session. Both the areas of focus and the means of presentation were diverse in nature, from innovative studies on suicide prevention, cultural stigma, and digital well-being to art, film, and community projects centered on healing and resilience.
A big part of what we do at WAVES is research—it lights the way for what work needs to be done. Being able to not only encourage that passion in the next generation, but to create space for them to share their work is among our deepest honors. By clicking on the button below, you can check out the various projects that were presented at Roots & Resilience, organized into three categories: Creative Exhibitions, Research Projects, and Community Projects. Thank you to all our AMAZING presenters!
| | Didn't make the conference? We've got you covered! | We have a playlist on our YouTube channel with recordings of the various sections. Click on the button to view! | | | |
WAVES Hosts first QPR Training
Earlier in the month during Mental Illness Awareness Week, WAVES hosted our first-ever QPR Suicide Prevention Training in Chinese, an incredible step toward making mental health education more inclusive and accessible. A huge thank-you to our wonderful and passionate QPR trainer, Claire Chen, for leading such an engaging and courageous session. Nearly half of our participants were college students, reflecting the growing commitment of young people to mental health advocacy and peer support.
Cultural relevance and language access are critical for suicide prevention. Mental illness doesn't discriminate, and by offering training in multiple languages, we move closer to ensuring that everyone in our community has the tools and knowledge to help save lives.
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A Big Month for Silent War: Screenings, Awards, Features & More!
This was a big month for Silent War. We’re thrilled to share that the film received two top honors at the 2025 Columbia Maryland Film Festival: Best Director and Best of Festival! Additionally, the piece was featured in the October Edition of Severna Park Voice! Director Changfu Chang, a resident of the Maryland community, sat down for an interview. In this piece, he talks about the history of the project, its intent, and the personal connections he’s made along the way.
The film also took the stage at the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, with several screenings planned for November. Interested in reading the article, catching up on upcoming events, or to learn more about the film? Click on the button below!
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From Students to Seniors: Connection and Celebration
We were proud to support the emotional wellness of Chinese students this October at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, alongside our amazing team and partners! We also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Cary Senior Center with our incredible Senior Advisory Board members and the wonderful Michelle Barrett and Carissa Kohn-Johnson. The live music, art displays, and talents of our senior community were truly inspiring. As our Executive Director, Lily put it, we might just have to sign up for the senior club ourselves!
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Three Peer Support Specialists Awarded!
This month, we proudly awarded three Peer Support Specialist Certificates! We were beyond proud to recognize the dedication and compassion of Krystal, Lei and Helen. We also had the joy of welcoming Yangyan Zheng to our Morrisville community—we’re so glad to have you with us! Our Fall Planning Team Meeting brought together all local Peer Support Specialist coordinators to discuss new ideas and strengthen our communication strategies for the season ahead. What a fulfilling honor it is to build a stronger, more connected community together. Congrats again to the newly minted specialists!
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WAVES Attends CAFA Volunteer Appreciation Event
Earlier in October, some of our WAVES team was honored to join the Chinese American Friendship Association (CAFA) Volunteer Appreciation Event. It was a wonderful gathering filled with homemade food, laughter, and meaningful conversations about civic engagement and community service, inspiring us all to stay involved and connected. Thank you to CAFA for hosting such a warm and joyful celebration of community spirit and volunteerism!
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Mark Your Calendar: TAAF AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit
We hope you'll check out this amazing event being held by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and hosted by Commonwealth Club World Affairs, which features our very own (and very talented) Program Manager, Reid Bowman.
We were honored to include TAAF's groundbreaking study, Beyond the Surface, in our conference last month, and have their amazing Director of Data & Research, Sruthi Chandrasekaran in attendance to guide a moving discussion that blended data and lived experience. We are continuously inspired by the work of TAAF and remain honored to have such dedicated partners advocating for AANHPI wellness. If you're looking to learn more or register now, click on the button below.
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View more of our events and programs,
please visit UCA WAVES Calendar↓
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